Chapter 24: Gravy

The divorce decree came on the Tuesday before Thanksgiving, in a thin envelope with my maiden name on it again.

I read it standing in my kitchen.

Then I put it in the drawer with the takeout menus and went to work.

On Thursday I stood on the porch of a brick house in Edina with a pie in my hands, nervous.

"You don't have to do this," Tony said beside me.

"You said it's one dinner."

"It's one dinner with my father."

"Then I'll be charming."

He laughed, and rang the bell.

Tony's father opened the door in a cardigan, with a dish towel over his shoulder.

He was a tall man with silver hair and Tony's grey eyes, and he looked at me for a long, slow moment.

I held out the pie.

"Mr. Hartwell," I said. "I'm Valeria."

"I know who you are." He took the pie and looked at it. "Is this pecan?"

"Pumpkin. With bourbon."

"Good." He stepped back from the door. "I've been wanting to meet the woman who ruined my son's career."

Tony sighed.

"Dad."

"I'm not finished."

His mouth moved at one corner, exactly the way Tony's did.

"I voted with the board, because I was angry and because I run a company. I'd vote the same way tomorrow. Then I went home and couldn't sleep."

"Sir..."

"He's been stooped over for four years, young lady. I watched it. I thought it was the business."